The Strugglers - Galway United

With five teams still facing the distinct possibility of life in the First Division next season, we continue our series looking at all the clubs involved. Alan Dooley today examines Galway United's hopes that their season will conclude at home to Cork City:

Galway United

Manager: Ian Foster

Current position: (Start of season prediction) 7th (8th)

Home-ground: Terryland Park

Top Scorer: Aaron Greene, Vinny Faherty (4)

Star Man: John Russell - Creative and dynamic in the middle of the park, Russell has provided consistent excellence for Galway after overcoming injury troubles at the start of the campaign. Worryingly for Galway, these troubles seem to have returned at an inappropriate point in the season. Garry Breen and Barry Ryan get honourable mentions for a squad which has generally speaking overachieved.

Story So Far: Turmoil reigned in pre-season after Jeff Kenna's defection to St. Pat's, but Ian Foster admirably stayed put and in his first season of management has done remarkably well with a threadbare squad. Avoid relegation and correct a dismal home record was the task Foster faced; he has succeeded in one regard and is possibly one win away from completing the other.

A five-game unbeaten run was the perfect start for the new boss, as wins over St. Pat's and Dundalk had fans dreaming of a top half finish. The reality, as Foster also knew, was that every point gained was a step closer to possible safety.

Seven losses in their next ten games restored a sense of perspective, but mid-table anonymity was still a very real prospect. Despite suffering two defeats, July proved a satisfying month for the Tribesmen as they took nine points from wins over St. Pat's, Bray, and Sligo Rovers.

The loss of Irish U21 star Jay O'Shea, after grabbing the winner at former club Bray in his last appearance, to Birmingham City reduced the pool of potential goalscorers, and a pointless August followed. Since then, a win-loss-win-loss-win-loss-win-loss sequence has shown the unpredictable nature of this team. One minute solid and hard-working, the next casual and porous, Foster is at a loss to explain the polarity of some of the performances. Hard work and commitment are the cornerstones of his ethos, and it has been worryingly lacking in some of the recent showings away from home.

Foster has unearthed a talented youngster in Aaron Greene, whose pace has added an extra dimension to their play, and has contributed with four goals that have led to three wins in recent times. He has quickly equalled Vinny Faherty's total, and the Moycullen native has also shone at times in the partnership, bringing his tally of assists to six.

Foster has often spoke of having set points targets for his side. It was a pragmatic approach which comes into sharp focus when the club's last three fixtures come into view. One feels he is probably three points short of where he would have expected to be, sitting on 40 points with the daunting task of taking on the top three teams in the league in succession. That two are at home increases possibilities for further gains, but only just. Finger nails may again be nibbled away by United fans before this season is out.

Remaining Fixtures:: Bohemians (H), Shamrock Rovers (A), Cork City (H).

extratime.ie verdict: 7th. Galway have been the main victim's of Sligo Rovers return to form, which has dragged them back towards the play-off places after appearing safe. They should remain above the bottom three, but given the difficulty of their last three fixtures, this could depend on the form of others around them.